January is long, for several reasons. For many, the wait for the next salary or other compensation becomes a long economic trial.
For those who have it acutely tough: Stop all lunches out and coffee breaks in town.
And then we stick to cheap recipes, advises Américo Fernández.
"That latte on the way to work, or those other small purchases that you think don't cost that much, easily become a large sum when you add them up", adds Swedbank's private economist Arturo Arques, and reminds of the everyday saver's best friend: The lunch box.
Tough measures
If it's really bad – drop the prestige and ask for receipts for Christmas gifts you've received.
An alternative is to return some of the Christmas gifts you've received to get a little more money. It's a pretty tough thing that many would shy away from doing, but it's something you may need to do, he says.
Many have some form of savings that they want to use for something further ahead. Use it now, drop the principle:
You might think that savings are not for smoothing out bills. But if the risk is that you'll be late with a credit card payment or a bill that makes February, March, April even tougher – that's exactly what the buffer is for.
Sell stuff
And preferably avoid credit cards. Otherwise, you risk having to pay for it all year in the form of high interest payments, note the private economists.
When the expense track is exhausted, most people have a lot in their wardrobes that can be sold on second-hand sites, they tip.
And take a look a bit further ahead than just January, advises Américo Fernández.
If you have a really tough January, it may be a signal that you perhaps haven't calibrated your private economy enough for the whole year, he says.
If you're unemployed or on sick leave and have trouble paying off your mortgage, you can apply for deferment, tips Fernández.
Call the bank and apply for amortization deferment.
